Sharp key cap



c. w. ANDERSEN 3,187,619

SHARP KEY CAP Filed May 2. 1963 IN VE N TOR.

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ggg/M, m W4@ jg United States Patent O assignor to The Ill., a corporation of Filed May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,508 4 Claims. (Cl. 84-437) This invention relates generally to pianos and analogous musical instruments and more particularly to the construction of sharp note key levers for such instruments.

Because the sharp note key levers are conventionally of lesser extent forwardly of the balance rail than the associated natural note key levers, it has proved desirable to fulcrum the sharp note key levers along a line that is situated rearwardly of the line along which the natural note key levers are fulcrumed. Such an arrangement results in more nearly statically balanced sharp note key levers. However, in order to compensate for this difference in balance line position, it has been common practice heretofore to increase the thickness of the balance rail punchings for the sharp note key levers. These thicker punchings have been necessary in order to level the sharp note key levers with respect to the adjacent natural note key levers. Increasing the thicknes of these punchings has been most frequently achieved by adding separate paper punchings, although this has proved to be an inconvenient and uneconomical operation. Moreover, the increased thickness of the punchings has enhanced the chances of the sharp note key levers becoming disengaged from their front rail pins.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a sharp note key lever arrangement that accommodates a different balancing position for the sharp note key lever without the concomitant need for compensating punchings.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved piano key arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sharp note key lever arrangement that is easily leveled with respect to adjacent natural note key levers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sharp note key lever arrangement of improved appearance.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel means for connecting a sharp note key cap to the corresponding sharp note key lever.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

A piano key arrangement in accord with the invention includes a balance rail having a forward edge portion, a balance rail pin for a sharp note key lever situated on the balance rail spaced rearwardly from the forward edge portion thereof, and a second balance rail pin for a natural note key lever disposed on the rail at a position spaced from the forward edge portion and from the first balance rail pin at position therebetween. In further accord with the invention, a sharp note key lever is fulcrumed on the balance rail at the rst mentioned balance rail pin, the sharp note key lever having an upwardly relieved portion overlying the forward edge portion of the balance rail whereby to accommodate full stroke downward depression of the front of the key lever.

In order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood, a single embodiment thereof, but to which the application is not to be restricted, is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view taken through a piano keyboard structure and showing a sharp note key lever arrangement constructed in compliance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the keyboard structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, central, sectional view in side elevation, taken through a sharp note key cap constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged View taken line 4 4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sharp note key cap of FIG. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, a piano keyboard structure indicated generally by the numeral 10 is seen to include a keybed 12 on which there is mounted a front rail 14 and a balance rail 16. atural note key levers 18 and sharp note key levers 20 are fulcrumed on the balance rail 16 by balance rail pins 22 and 24 respectively. An annular felt punching 26 surrounds each of the balance rail pins 22 and 24 to cushion the engagement of the corresponding key lever with the balance rail. Advantageously, the individual key levers are provided with vertical slots 28 for receiving the corresponding balance rail pins, the slots 28 bein g lined on opposite lateral surfaces with felt strips 30. To guide the movement of the forward ends of the several key levers, front rail pins 32 are driven into bores fashioned in the front rail 14, and the key levers are correspondingly fashioned with vertical slots 34 for receiving these front rail pins. Relatively thick, annular felt punchings 36 are placed about the front rail pins 32 to cushion the engagement of the key levers with the front rail. In addition, a key cloth or strip 38 is secured to the keybed 12 underlying the rear end of the several key levers to afford a cushioned rest therefor. A capstan screw 40 is aixed to the rear end of each key lever to engage and actuate a whip 42 or other similar operating element, it being recognized that the key levers can be connected to an action mechanism or other operating element by means other than the capstan screw 40, such as for example a key fork and connecting rod unit.

The key levers 18 and 20 are substantially unrestrained against upward movement in the general direction indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow 44; and an individual key lever could be readily lifted from its front rail pin 32 in the absence of a drop rail 46, drop rail 46 overlying a medial portion of the aligned key levers. A felt pad or strip 48 is attached to the lower edge of drop rail 46 to cushion the engagement of the key levers therewith. In addition to its function as an upstop, the drop rail 46 serves to provide a datum for use in leveling the sharp note key levers with respect to the natural note key levers.

In compliance with conventional practice, the natural note key levers 18 comprise a wooden body 50 and a decorative and wear-resistant facing 52 that extends over the top and front surfaces of the body 50. The rear portion of the top segment of the facing 52 extends beheath the drop rail 46, as is best seen in FIG. 4, the corresponding natural note key lever being leveled by engagement of this top facing with the pad 48.

Each of the sharp note key levers 20 also comprises a wooden body indicated by the numeral 54. In compliance with the invention, the top surface of the body 54 is flat or planar in nature, and longitudinally spaced, generally vertical bores 56 are formed in the body 54 to open from t-he fiat, top surface thereof. In addition to the rigid body 54, each sharp note key lever 20 comprises a key cap 58, the cap 58 including a relatively high, inverted tub-like body 60 that includes a roof plate 61 and wall plates 63 and that is fashioned with a iiat lower or bottom surface for mateably engaging the top sur-face of the body 54. The key cap 58 further includes spaced-apart, straight walled post elements 62 that depend from t-hebody 60 fittingly to enter the bores 56 substantially along the anemie whereby to position the key cap on the body 54 and whereby to promote attachment of the key cap to the key body. An adhesive layer 64 acts between the mateably engaging surfaces of the key cap 53 and the key body 54 to secure these components together.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the body 50 of the key cap 53 is seen to define a hollow housing or shell whereas t-he post elements 62 define tubular members. It is recognized that the post elements 62 may be equally well fashioned as solid members; and if desired, the lower ends of the post elements 62 may be tapered for leading the post elements into the bores 56. Advantageously, the key cap 5g is formed from a resinousv plastic material in order that the post elements 62 and the body 60 may be molded integral.

`In compliance with an important feature of the invention, the sharp note key cap 5S also includes a relatively thin plate or tab 66 which extends rearwardly from the body 60, the tab 66 being molded integral with the remaining components of the key cap. The tab 66 is specifically connected to the body 60 with its undersurface aligned with the corresponding surface thereof. Thus, the tab `66 may @contact the top sunface of the key body 45; and considering FIG. 4, the tab 66 will be seen to take a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the top coverings of the natural note key levers. This arrangement of the .tab 66 allows the sharp note key levers to be leveled against the pad 48 relative to the adjacent natural note key levers without the need for either additional balance rail punchings or an upward tailing of the Inaterial of the key body 54. The tab 66, being of the same material and therefore of the same appearance as the remainder of the key cap 58, also presents a better appearance than the conventional dying or painting of the top rear surface of the key body 54.

Returning to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that each of the balance rail pins 22 for the natural note key levers is spaced between the *line `of the balance hail pins 24 and a forward edge portion 68 of the balance raillle. This spacing of the sharp note key lever balance line rearwardly of the balance line for the natural note key levers results in a more nearly statically balanced arrangement of the sharp note key levers; and in compliance with another important feature of the invention, the sharp note key body 54 has an upwardly relieved portion 70 overlying the forward edge portion 63 of theV balance rail. This relieved portion of the sharp note key body facilitates the highly desirable rearward placement of the sharp note key lever balance line. The described arrangement thereby readily accommodates a full stroke downward depression of the front end of the sharp note key levers.

The specific example herein shown and described is to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes in structure and arrangement will, no doubt, occur to Ithose skilled in the art; and suc-h changes `are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows: Y

lll. In a piano key arrangement, the combination comprising: a sharp note key lever of rigid material having a fiat top surface and longitudinally spaced bores opening from said top surface; and a key cap including an inverted tub-like body having a roof plate and wall plates spacing said roof plate above said top surface, said body further having spacedeapart, straight Walled post elements depending from said roof plate iit'tingly to enter said bores for attaching said cap to said key lever.

Z. `In a piano key arrangement, the combination comprising: a sharp note key lever of rigid material having a flat top surface; and a key cap including a relativelyV Y high body having bottom surface means mateably engaging the top surface of said key lever, said key cap additionally including a relatively thin plate extending rearwardly ofl said body from said bottom surface means and contacting said top surface to provide means for leveling said sharp note key lever relative to adjacent natunal note key levers having facing means thereon in lateral alignment with the portion of `said `sharp note key lever which is covered by said plate.

3. `In a piano key arrangement, the combination comprising: a sharp note key lever lof rigid material having a tiat top surface and longitudinally spaced bores opening from said top surface; and a key cap includingra relatively high, inverted tub-like body having bottom surface means mateably engaging `the top surface of said key lever, said key cap further including a roof plate and wall plates spacing said roof plate above said top surface, said body further having spaced-apart, straight walled post elements depending from said roof plate fittingly to enter said bores for attaching said cap to said key lever, said key cap additionally including a relatively thin plate extending rearwardly of said body from said bottom surface means and contacting said top sur-face to provide means for leveling said sharp note key lever relative to adjacent natural note key levers having facings thereon in lateral alignment with the portion of said sharp note key lever which is covered by said plate.

4. In a piano key arrangement, the 'combination according to `claim 3 wherein said body, said post elements, and said plate are molded integral.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,700 3/80' Haines 84-433 .1,072,311 9/ 13 Clutsam 84--435 1,200,182 10/16 Evans` 84-437 2,117,002 5/38 Hammond 84--433 X 3,099,930 8/ 63 Haviland 84--433 FOREIGN PATENTS 263,809 9/ 13 Germany.

12,616 1900 Great Britain.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PIANO KEY ARRANGEMENT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SHARP NOTE KEY LEVER OF RIGID MATERIAL HAVING A FLAT TOP SURFACE AND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED BORES OPENING FROM SAID TOP SURFACE; AND A KEY CAP INCLUDING AN INVERTED TUB-LIKE BODY HAVING A ROOF PLATE AND WALL PLATES SPACING SAID ROOF PLATE ABOVE SAID TOP SURFACE, SAID BODY FURTHER HAVING SPACED-APART, STRAIGHT WALLED POST ELEMENTS DEPENDING FROM SAID ROOF PLATE FITTINGLY TO ENTER SAID BORES FOR ATTACHING SAID CAP TO SAID KEY LEVER. 